District



(No Model.)

F. T. & H. A. HOPKINS. SELF ADJUST-ABLE AND REVERSIBLE TILE.

a No. 604,325. Patented May 17,1898.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK 'l. HOPKINS AND HARRY A. HOPKINS, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SELF-ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 604,325 dated May 17, 1898.

Application filed August 3 1, 1 897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK T. HOPKINS and HARRY A. HOPKINS, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Adjustable and Reversible Tiles; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 'l

Our invention relates to self-adj usting and reversible cement-locking tiles, and are principally designed for use in floors and thresholds, but which may be used for many other purposes. These tiles as usually constructed consist of rectangular or other shaped blocks of clays or vitreous materials, the sides of which are at right angles to the upper and lower surfaces. The upper surfaces are smooth, while the lower surfaces are indented or ridged, so that they will take'hold of the cement'foundation.

The object of our invention is to produce a tile which shall possess superior advantages over other tiles with respect to efficiency in use and cheapness.

Our invention consists, essentially, in a tile, the top and bottom surfaces being smooth and of the same size, thus making the tiles reversible, and the sides of which are formed with a continuous rib or curved or beveled from the center to the edges, so that in use the tiles will contact with each other on a line midway between the upper and lower faces, while a uniform space will be left all around the same at the upper and lower edges, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tile constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is an end view showing several of said tiles constructed according to our invention in place so as to form a floor or. other construction. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a series of circular tiles constructed according to our invention so as to Serial N0- 650,094- (N0 model.)

form a floor or other construction. Fig. lis a plan view showing a series of hexagonal tiles constructed according to our invention so as to form a floor or other construction. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing modified construction of said tiles according to our invention. Figs. 7 and S are end views of a number of tiles constructed as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in place so as to form a floor or other construction.

In said drawings, referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference-numeral 1 designates a square tile of any clay, vitreous or other materials formed with a continuous central rib 2, extending all around the same. In Figs. 3 and 4 the construct-ion is the same, except that the tiles are made circular and hexagonal, respectively.

In laying the small tiles constructed according to our invention they are first assembled on a suitable support, which may consist of a thin sheet of metal made for the purpose and arranged to form the desired patterns. The ribs of the tiles will abut against each other, so that a uniform space will be left between the tiles above and below the ribs. The tiles are then pushed off the support onto the prepared cement foundation, and the cement filling in the spaces below the ribs will securely hold the tiles in place. Theyare then filled with cement in the upper spaces, which forms a complete cement locking of both top and bottom of said tiles.

In Fig. 5 the tiles instead of being formed with ribs are beveled, as seen at 3, from the center toward the edges, while in Fig. 6 the sides are curved or convexed, as seen at 4. However, the same effect is produced as by the tiles shown in Fig. lviz., that when in place so as to form a floor or other construction they will abut at the centers, while a uniform space will be left at the upper and lower edges to receive the cement locking.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is- 1. A tile floor or like structure comprising the combination of aplurality of self-adjusting and reversible tiles, the edges of which project at their horizontal centers beyond the upper and lower portions thereof, whereby when the tiles are abutted together uniform filling-spaces will be left on both sides thereof, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article, areversible tile having its sides beveled from the center to the edges, substantially as described.

3. A tile floor or other'construction consisting of a. number of tiles abutting against or contacting with each other on a central line with uniform spaces at the upper and lower edges and the cement foundation upon which the said tiles rest, the cement filling the said lower and upper spaces, thus forming a cement locking, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa- I 5 tures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T. HOPKINS. HARRY A. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. ODoNNELL, ALBERT POPKINS. 

